The Chemnitz thermal power plant uses cogeneration to generate power and district heating. The power plant draws water for the cooling processes and steam production from the rivers Chemnitz and Zschopau. The water’s intended use – as cooling water, process water or almost pure, completely desalinated water (demineralized water) for steam generation – determines the need for complex mechanical and chemical treatment procedures. Even after it has been softened and desalinated using ion exchange resins, the water still contains a considerable amount of organic substances that cause excessive conductivity in the water-steam cycle that is harmful to the turbine and other components. The membrane filter elements from Lanxess lower the degree of fluctuation in water quality and in particular filter out organic substances.
Lanxess membrane technology goes online at German power plant
| By Mary Page Bailey
Fouling-resistant membrane technology from Lanxess (Cologne, Germany; www.lanxess.com) is being used at the Dammweg thermal power station in Chemnitz, Germany. This is the first large-scale application of the technology in Europe. A set of 60 Lewabrane RO B400 FR filter elements apply a reverse-osmosis process to cleanse 50 to 60 m3/h of pre-treated river water for steam generation purposes. The reverse-osmosis facility in the Chemnitz power plant was developed and designed by the water technology company Berkefeld, a subsidiary of the global group Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies.